We all know that the shorter working week has had proven success in other countries. 86% of Iceland’s workforce, for example, have either moved to a shorter working week or have the right to request shorter hours. So as Bristol tentatively dips its toe into the sea of change with a pilot scheme rolling out across businesses in the city, here we are five years into our four-day working week with some (hopefully) helpful reflections.
Why did we do it?
Life is short and we want it to be excellent. Every bit of it. We’ve found that since allowing more space for our brains to process, stray, absorb and even rest (what a thought, we know) this has enabled better ideas to flow, calmer attitudes to influence the team and ultimately a higher level of productivity during the time spent at our desks. Don’t get us wrong, we believe in working hard to deliver excellent, refined work – the only difference is that we think it can be achieved successfully within four days. No extra hours, just four normal days.
How does it work for our clients?
From a client’s perspective, you wouldn’t know any different. At the start of every project we create a timeline that our clients are happy with and that’s the timeline that we work to. Emails are answered from Monday to Thursday and we’re here to chat over the phone on any of those days too!
How does it work for the team?
Every team member works the same four days which allows for collaboration and efficiency. What each team member does on Fridays is completely up to them. And then after a year of working for Studio Floc, all staff get paid the equivalent of a five-day working week for just four days. It’s our way of saying thank you for the hard work that everyone puts in.
A win-win
Excellence can be achieved in so many ways. For us, a four-day working week helps us accomplish this – and we don’t just mean in the workplace – but in every aspect of our lives. we would consider that a win-win.
Driven by purpose, we use creativity to enable the makers, equip the innovators and empower the world-changers. We specialise in branding, print and digital design.
Have questions about our four-day working week? Looking for help with branding, print or digital design work? Let’s chat! Get in touch at [email protected]
Do you know what “user experience” means? It’s a term that’s frequently used in the context of web design, and for many good reasons. A user’s first impression of your company can make or break their perception after they visit your website. The navigation of the website is another crucial component of the user experience. Learn more about the significance of navigation in web design and what to look for in a web design firm that prioritises strong navigation by reading on.
The term “navigation” describes how a user navigates a website. It has buttons, menus, and links that users may utilise to access the site’s various pages and functions. The navigation of a website functions essentially as a map for users.
As you will see in the reasons listed below, navigation should be given priority in web design:
The user experience is important when it comes to web design, as was already established. A professional web development company is aware that effective navigation enables people to quickly access the information they are looking for on a website. If a user is unable to find what they need on your website quickly and easily, they are likely to leave the site and never return to it. On the other hand, users are more likely to interact with the website and perhaps even make a purchase when they encounter smart, user-friendly navigation.
While selecting a web development agency in the UK, search engine optimisation (SEO), which is the process of optimising a website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs), should always be given top consideration. Since search engines utilise it to scan and index the site’s pages, effective navigation is essential for SEO. The navigation of a website can make it difficult for search engines to comprehend the site’s structure when it is disorganised or unclear. The ranking of the website may suffer as a result.
Accessibility should be taken into account while creating websites. When a website provides clear navigation, people with disabilities—like those who use screen readers to navigate the site—will find it easier to use. Always work with a web design company that is aware of how well-organised and labelled websites are simpler for screen readers to traverse.
The amount of visitors to your website that leave without interacting with it is referred to as the “bounce rate.” A high bounce rate frequently indicates that users are having problems accessing the website. Users can locate what they’re looking for more easily when the navigation is improved, which also boosts engagement and lowers the bounce rate.
The basic objective of a website is to turn visitors into paying clients. By making it simpler for visitors to carry out desired actions, such filling out a contact form or finishing the checkout process, effective navigation can play a significant role in this.
A successful website must have effective navigation since it affects a number of variables, including user experience, accessibility, and SEO. It’s crucial to pick a web design company that prioritises and sets a high value on effective navigation.
Learn more about WeAgile, the leading UK app development agency.
Without an excellent website, your business simply cannot develop in the current digital era. It would be simple if all you required was a website, but what you actually need is a strong and effective online presence. Nonetheless, many business owners are still ignorant of this fact today. Some people still give little thought to whether a website’s claims about its goals, its vision, and the services it provides are accurate.
Fortunately, you are not one of them, and you have come looking for information and solutions. You are probably wondering why working with a skilled web development company is the best method to achieve the desired outcome, which is an excellent website.
We are available to you to discuss the advantages of working with a web design and development company like WeAgile when creating a new website or redesigning an existing one.
Let’s start by responding to some often asked queries:
A web development business with expertise may build a website from the ground up. Professional programmers and web designers at WeAgile have a wealth of experience creating digital goods (such as websites, applications, e-commerce sites, and software) for a variety of sectors. In order to find the best solution for you, web designers and web developers work together. They construct frameworks and databases, come up with innovative concepts, and decide on a language for both front-end and back-end development. The task of a web designer is to create the user interface or user experience. The team at WeAgile is skilled in many areas, including testing, deploying, and maintaining digital products.
First off, WeAgile has a team of web developers, web designers, SEO specialists, project managers, testers, and more. As a single freelancer just cannot have all of this knowledge, you will undoubtedly receive a product that is subpar. Not because they are not professionals, but simply because it is difficult for one person to be an authority in so many different fields.
Second, even after the website is launched, the WeAgile team will be able to give you ongoing assistance and maintenance (indefinitely). Many people are unaware that even after the website is launched, it will need to be updated frequently for a variety of reasons. For example, if your website is built in WordPress, there are frequent updates to the platform and plugins; if you want your website to rank well on Google, Google regularly updates its algorithm; etc. You need to stay on top of all of this, and more often than not, a freelancer won’t be able to support you long-term due to other commitments.
Thirdly, clients will obtain the best level of service possible because a web development agency sets a great value on both its reputation and its long-term goals. Because you won’t be able to post a Google review or a Trustpilot rating for an independent freelancer, work is frequently finished a little sloppier and, most likely, no one will ever find out if your website is not functioning as intended. It is not even an exaggeration to say that we work with the best freelancers in the world. They are each true experts in their respective fields, but when it comes to web design and development, it takes a team (designers, developers, project managers, SEO experts, testers) to produce a top-notch outcome.
Fourth, your website will be delivered quickly and efficiently, and it will be a well-rounded final product because many professionals will have had input in the end product, often coming up with innovative ideas that will greatly benefit your company’s digital presence. This assumes nothing completely unforeseeable happens (like a significant change in the scope of work). For instance, if a freelancer you are working with experiences a personal setback (such as illness or a holiday), your project will be completely abandoned.
Let’s add another “layer of safety” for choosing a web design agency over a freelancer if the list above hasn’t already persuaded you. An agency is always a legitimate firm with owners, directors, insurance, etc. They won’t suddenly vanish one day or stop returning calls while the project is still in process.
Certainly, there are platforms like Squarespace or Wix where you can try your best to build a straightforward and appealing website. No matter how much you know about designing and constructing websites, you will never be able to match the experience of a web development business.
Working with a web development company like WeAgile has a lot of benefits. Here is a succinct list of them:
We trust that we have clarified some of your concerns and dispelled any uncertainty you may have had over hiring a web design and development company. However, if you still have any questions about WeAgile, the leading UK Web Design and Development Company, don’t hesitate to contact us, and we’ll get back to you right away.
Our identity and brand: how we’ve chosen to show up and what it says about us.
We were well aware that when a new company sets up, there’s immediate reaction to the name and in particular the logo. Whether conscious or sub-conscious, it can leave a lasting impression.
So we sharpened our pencils!
And as you can see, had a great time exploring a lot of versions and iterations to land on a logo we felt represented what Studio Every is all about and the topics we care about.
Whilst most of the challenges we hope to address at Studio Every could have serious impact on many people, that didn’t mean we had to be too stuffy with how we show up.
The balancing act was creating type that was approachable and legible, but that also had a flicker of playfulness and a human aspect: our view is that creativity, even when subtle, can make a meaningful difference.
Our eyes gaze to the horizon of a brighter future with sustainable and inclusive solutions at its heart and our E is framed with a ‘sunrise’ circle hinting at the hope and positivity that a new (every) day can bring.
As more and more businesses shift towards digital platforms, data analytics is becoming increasingly vital for ensuring customer retention through a smooth and effective onboarding process.
A well-designed onboarding process, optimised through careful planning, testing, and data analysis, helps customers quickly understand your product or service, leading to long-term success with your business.
How do I begin?
Data analytics can seem scary at first. But it’s one of the most powerful tools in marketing and will help you generate a strategy that works and keeps on working.
So, here are five brief tips (see our website for them in full) for using data analytics to improve your onboarding process while enhancing your customer retention:
It’s all well and good saying analyse your data… But if you haven’t got any to start with, that’s going to be hard.
To begin with, identify which metrics are most important to track, these will be your KPIs (key performance indicators).
A/B testing is vital to help you refine your process by allowing you to test different approaches and identify which ones lead to higher conversion rates and engagement.
Using Google Analytics, you will gain insights into which areas may be causing confusion or frustration, which may lead customers to drop off.
With this knowledge, you’ll find ways to improve the process and make it more user-friendly.
While looking at your numbers is beneficial, so is hearing directly from your customers about their experience. Gathering qualitative feedback, such as customer comments or surveys, gives you insights into specific pain points or areas for improvement.
It’s important to continuously iterate and improve to keep your customers engaged and satisfied. Keep analysing data and gathering feedback to identify areas that need refining.
If you’d like to see our tips in more detail with examples, head over to our website.
Using data analytics to refine your onboarding process is essential to keep your customers happy and coming back. So be sure to keep improving to ensure a smooth onboarding experience that sets you and your customers up for success.
At Bopgun, customer retention is our bread and butter! If you’re feeling stuck and need some expert guidance, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
JonesMillbank, Bristol-based video production company, has successfully won a contract with University of Southampton to produce their flagship undergraduate campaign video.
The multi-channel campaign will launch ahead of the University’s 2024 recruitment campaign, bolstering and highlighting their existing reputation and global rankings.
JonesMillbank were invited to a competitive pitch for the opportunity, reflecting their growing experience, insight and reputation in the higher education sector. They join existing clients including the University’s of Bristol, Exeter, Winchester and Central Lancashire.
“We’ve worked in the education sector since day one and we absolutely love working with universities; the challenge of engaging and communicating with an ever-changing, dynamic audience is one our strategists and creatives relish” said Russell Jones, Director at JonesMillbank.
“University of Southampton chose us for our bold, creative and impactful concept, and we’re incredibly excited to be given the opportunity to bring it to life.”
University of Southampton is one of the world’s leading universities, placed in the top 100 universities globally in QS World rankings. They are also a founding member of the Russell Group, an organisation of 24 top UK universities committed to maintaining the highest research and teaching standards.
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JonesMillbank are a full-service video production company.
They work in-house with a talented team of multi-disciplined creatives, telling authentic stories for a range of clients such as University of Bristol, IDLES, NHS England, The Royal Mint and Battersea.
jonesmillbank.com
01173706372
[email protected]
Independent brand consultancy Mr B & Friends has acquired FutureKings, as it continues to capitalise on the rapidly growing demand seen for brand strategy in the SME segment.
FutureKings, launched in 2016 by Executive Creative Director Steven Anderson and Managing Director Ben Mott, specifically develops brand strategy and identity programmes to support ambitious start-up and scale-up businesses. The consultancy has delivered rapid business growth for scores of early stage and scaling businesses through a range of packaged programmes. Today, FutureKings has 10 full time staff based in Bristol and London.
“There’s something almost romantic about this union” said Mr B & Friends Founder & CEO Simon Barbato. “Steve and I first met and worked together in 1995 at Light & Coley in London, and we had discussed starting an agency together before I launched Mr B & Friends. To now have the chance to rekindle that relationship is just wonderful.”
“But let’s be clear, this is a strategic acquisition. We have long been admirers of the work that FutureKings produces for this segment of the market – it’s truly first class, and it’s a segment we’re also active in, having launched our brand accelerator programme Beta three years ago. Our aim is to leverage the FutureKings brand to accelerate this dynamic part of the market, helping more SMEs and early-stage companies to gain a competitive category advantage through brand development.”
FutureKings will retain its brand, team, clients, processes and systems, and will relocate to the Mr B & Friends Bristol city centre HQ to ensure a smooth cultural integration and better adoption of client opportunities. The FutureKings London team will continue their contribution for a transitionary period before opening the Mr B & Friends London office – a crucial element of the agency’s growth strategy.
Ben Mott, FutureKings Managing Director added: “From the first discussion about this acquisition, the mutual benefits and opportunities for both companies were obvious. Steve and I have been looking for the right way to grow, and this deal gives FutureKings the perfect platform. Our mutual ambitions for the future are clearly aligned; growth in Bristol, London and the US, delivering our proven processes to a wider range of SME and early-stage businesses. We’re thrilled we’ve made this happen and are excited about the next phase of our journey.”
This acquisition takes Mr B & Friends to 45 staff following an impressive trading year that has seen the agency grow revenue 34 per cent, winning new clients such as Lego Group, Persimmon Homes, Haleon Plc, Gresham Plc and British Canoeing. And with London now firmly in their sights and a presence planned for the USA, the company is predicting its best trading year of its 17 year history.
FutureKings ECD, Steven Anderson wraps up: “This move is testament to the hard work of the whole FutureKings team and the results we’ve had for our clients over the last seven years. A great strength of this acquisition is that culturally our ways of working are totally aligned as Simon and I come from the same starting place. I’m personally incredibly excited to be working with Simon again and that the stars have aligned for us professionally and as friends. Ben and I couldn’t be more pleased with the exciting future plans and it is exactly the right time in our growth to really hit fast forward.”
Torchbox is the digital partner for many of the best, most progressive organisations in the world, with a team of 120+ people primarily in the UK but with a significant presence in Manila and a network of remote staff from Brazil to Hungary.
In 2019, the co-founders, Tom Dyson and Olly Willans, sold the business to an Employee Owned Trust. In July 2022, just three years later and two years ahead of schedule, they reached financial freedom, won the Delivering Good Leadership Award at the 2022 EOA awards, and now stand at a pivotal point in their history where they can set an exciting, new vision for the next ten years.
Olly Willans, Co-founder and CSO at Torchbox said:
“We’re very excited for the future of Torchbox as a financially-independent, employee-owned organisation. We’re ambitious to push this ownership model as far as it can go and to create the most rewarding employee experience we can. To do this, we need to combine our creativity and enthusiasm with real expertise in employee ownership and no one can offer much more of that than Ann Tyler, so it’s a great pleasure to welcome her to our Trust board.”
Ann Tyler, a Cambridge graduate and qualified solicitor, has over 35 years experience in legal and policy advice and consulting work in employee ownership. She has advised on employee ownership schemes in various public and private companies, and her extensive list of experience includes setting up the first ESOP in the UK, in Roadchef Limited and reviewing the Labour Party’s policy on Employee Ownership as part of The Hunt Review.
Ann, says about her new role:
“I’m passionate about using my many years of experience in the EO sector to support companies and their employees succeed as independent employee-owned businesses with a meaningful culture of participation and engagement. I’m delighted to be joining Torchbox as their first independent Trustee, now that they are a financially independent, 100% employee – owned company with what I know will be an exciting future ahead.”
Lisa Ballam, Employee Trustee Director and Head of Marketing, says:
“It’s going to be really interesting to have an external person’s perspective on the plans and decisions we’re making in our quarterly meetings. We’re all looking forward to working with Ann to develop the role and draw on the benefits that an independent trustee, with extensive experience, can bring to our EOT board.”
Ann will join Torchbox for her first quarterly EOT meeting on the 28th of March and meet some of the co-owners based in the Bristol office.
Bristol-based creative business collective Istoria Group has launched a competition to find a regional, women-owned Micro Business to support as part of its Incubator Hub programme, whereby Istoria Group houses and helps guide fledgling businesses during their initial period of development. The winner will be selected from applications received online, with the launch of the initiative timed to coincide with International Women’s Day 2023.
The lucky winning business will receive rent-free office space for up to four people for a 6-month period at Istoria Group’s Bristol Paintworks HQ, starting 1 June 2023, as well as a free website design and build, a brand critique/refresh and mentorship from the Group’s Chairwoman and Heads of Finance, Marketing and PR.
Lindie Kramers, Chief Marketing Officer for Istoria Group, commented: ‘As a women-owned SME, we’re actively seeking to support another female-founded business in our region. We want to be as inclusive as possible in our search for the right Micro Business and would particularly welcome applications from traditionally under-represented communities in business, whether by age, class or ethnicity, to help promote social mobility and counter current imbalances in opportunity and representation.’
To help target its search, Istoria Group is working with the support two established local organisations – Black South West Network (BSWN) and Babbasa – to help spread the word and make sure new of the competition offer reaches as diverse and inclusive an audience as possible in the region.
Sibusiso Tshabalala, Business Support Coordinator, Black South West Network, commented ‘If the Creative Industries were as socio-economically diverse as the wider economy, the sector could provide employment opportunities to an additional 263,200 working-class individuals. However, the lack of diversity in the industry remains a challenge. Fortunately, creative agencies like Istoria Group are working selflessly and consciously to diversify the industry. Initiatives like theirs are particularly crucial in areas like the South West, which lack representation in the creative sector. By supporting minority-led agencies, we can foster the growth of diverse creative content that is relevant and engaging to both the local community and beyond.’
Matt Rogers, Head of Development at Babbasa, added: ‘Many of the young people Babbasa supports are interested in entrepreneurship, and starting their own business is a key way for many young people to access an income that enables them to thrive. We’re pleased to support this fantastic opportunity.’
The winning applicant / business will be selected by a team of five judges:
Sam Rowe, CEO, Istoria Group
Lindie Kramers, CMO, Istoria Group
Sibusiso Tshabalala, Business Support Coordinator, BSWN
Matt Rogers, Head of Development, Babbasa
Cecilia Thirlway, Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship,
Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, University of Bristol
About The Incubator Hub:
The Incubator Hub idea arises out of Istoria Group’s dedication to start-up entrepreneurialism and business mentorship. The Incubator Hub was set up to house and help guide small businesses until they mature and, to date, Istoria Group has successfully helped to grow and ‘hatch’ two Incubator Hub companies: children’s book publishers i am a bookworm – https://www.iamabookworm.co.uk/ and innovation platform Solverboard, which was purchased in Summer 22 by AIM-listed technology and innovation experts Sopheon (and now rebranded as ‘Acclaim Ideas’) – https://www.sopheon.com/products/acclaimideas
The focus on micro-businesses this time around was inspired by an article on the International Women’s Day’s 2022 website, which noted how often women have a particular gift for spotting opportunity-based gaps in the market for products and services, but how, through lack of capital – which is often generationally-available, gender-biased and slow to adapt to contemporary needs – women often start small, which makes micro-businesses a great area to focus on to aid and encourage new business growth.
Details of Offer:
Istoria Group is offering the competition-winning business free and self-contained office space on the mezzanine level of its Bristol Paintworks HQ for 1-4 people, with dedicated toilets and access to all shared office facilities, from a kitchen to bookable meeting rooms, as well as free electricity and WiFi, for a six-month period from 1 June – 30 November 2023.
Istoria Group is additionally offering mentorship and in-house creative services as follows:
How to Apply:
Applicants can be a business in any market and at any stage of early growth, as long as female-founded and based in Bristol or the South-West region.
The deadline for applications is midnight on Wednesday 19 April 2023 and the simple application form can be found at: www.istoriagroup.com/micro-business-competition-2023
Istoria Group, which last year became a B Corp, says applicants should ideally share at least some of its corporate values, which include the EPIC values (entrepreneurial, personable, intelligent and collaborative), as well as standing for the inclusive and ethical treatment of staff; innovation in business; a strong commitment to sustainability and creative re-use and a commitment to the local Bristol region and economy.
What is a Micro Business?
In the UK, a micro business is defined by Companies House as a business of 1-9 employees, with turnover of less than £632,000 and £316,000 or less on its balance sheet.
Everyone is now aware that the best way to stand out online is through digital marketing. Businesses are looking for the newest search engine optimisation (SEO) techniques as we enter 2023.
The most important SEO components are still in place. Your starting point should still be keywords, SEO backlinks, meta tags, and organic content marketing.
We’ll talk about five SEO trends you should include in your continuing marketing plan. To find out more about them and how they may help your business, keep reading:
Do you know about Google’s EAT? It reflects how Google evaluates the information on your page. The days of creating a website and using unethical SEO methods to rank in search results are long gone.
Google now expects your website content to demonstrate your subject-matter expertise. In blogs and other written and visual content, it searches for authoritative voices. Finally, it wants to make sure you can be trusted to deliver the good or service you promise.
Although EAT is not brand-new, it is evolving into a potent tool for promoting trustworthy websites.
In SEO trends, long-form content is reemerging. People seek out informative and interesting content of high calibre. Provide useful information on your website if you want visitors to stay there longer.
Strong writers that can write about your products, services, and industry news should be part of your business SEO strategy. Make sure the content is simple to share on social media and via email.
The popularity of video is growing. Many entrepreneurs are using the camera to promote their brands today. That is a fantastic business SEO strategy that will develop further.
In several marketing sectors, video advertising is taking the place of television advertising. Also, there are social networking and streaming services with business plans where you can monetise your video output.
Around 3.7 billion people will use smartphones to access the internet by 2025. Websites must be responsive to mobile devices and mobile-friendly. Following SEO trends involves replicating the user experience that users have on desktops and laptops.
To assist businesses in evaluating the effectiveness of their business SEO, Google provides a mobile usability report.
The way we communicate online is changing as a result of artificial intelligence. If you want to enhance interaction with your digital marketing, you’ll need it for business SEO.
Examining the following AI SEO trends will help you achieve better results:
All three contribute to strengthening connections with present and potential clients. Business SEO should employ AI to enhance their outcomes, much like search engines do.
You’ll be well on your way to a successful new year if you implement these SEO trends. Keep in mind that consistency is crucial. Keep your website and social media current by providing new information often.
Do you want to learn more about SEO? Check out the services BrisTechTonic Bristol SEO Company has to offer.
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